Huskies still lead for Sample

Scott Eklund

11/08/2010

Grant (Sacramento) S James Sample is having an outstanding senior season for the Pacers and continues to favor Washington over several other schools. Dawgman.com recently spoke to the hard-hitting DB and he updated us on things and said he's getting close to making a decision, but plans to visit another Pac 10 school the first week of December...

"I was supposed to visit Oregon this past Saturday when they played U-Dub, but I couldn't get ahold of their coaches and they never called me back so, I really don't know what's going on with them right now," Sample told Dawgman.com. "I'm still interested in them and I want to see what's going on, but Washington is my leader, they are right at the top, and I just got an offer from Oregon State and I'm visiting there for their game against Oregon on December 4th."

Sample said Washington's coaches have been talking to him, but they no longer focus on recruiting.

"I talk to coach (Jeff) Mills and coach (Demetrice) Martin about stuff, but it's mostly just about personal stuff like how I'm doing and how my family is doing," Sample noted. "I've got a really good relationship with the coaches at U-Dub, so that is one of the biggest reasons they are number one for me."

The talented safety prospect has offers from most of the Pac 10 and said he's unsure of when he will make a decision.

"I haven't really thought about an announcement date," Sample said. "I'll decide when I'm ready, but Washington is still the leader and then I'm also considering Cal, Oregon State and Oregon."

Sample said he's gotten to see bits and pieces of all of Washington's games and he's been excited to see what they are doing on the field.

"I watched all of the USC game and that was a great game and a great win," Sample said. "I've seen the other games and they've gotten some bad losses, but you can see how young they are and you put yourself in there and you feel like you could help out if you ended up there.

"I liked how they played against Oregon. They were more physical than they had been, but (the Ducks) are just so fast and they hit you so quick that it's tough to recover.

"When you see something like that, you watch the safeties and how they are playing and you say to yourself 'man, if I was in there I could do that' and stuff, but that isn't saying their DBs aren't playing well, you just think you could go in and help."

If productivity means anything, there's no reason to think Sample couldn't make his presence felt no matter where he ends up.

After finishing with 111 tackles, two forced fumbles, an interception, a touchdown and a fumble recovery as a junior in 2009, Sample is having another great season for the Pacers posting 87 tackles, one sack, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble for a team that is 10-0 and ranked #7 in the state by MaxPreps.

"We're having a good season and we want another championship," Sample said. "It's amazing how quickly high school has gone for me and we only have a few more games, so I'm just enjoying it."

This weekend, Grant takes on Wood High School in the first round of the state playoffs.